July 11th….last day and then back to the USA!

I decided to pre-pack a little just to settle my head a bit with what I brought; what I bought, and all that crazy stuff! If I had given it more thought, I would have brought a 2nd suitcase right from the start because International flights always get 1 free bag; but with my United credit card (formerly my Continental Airlines credit card!) I get 1 bag free also, so I could’ve not been so worried about weight in the bag, etc.  I brought all sorts of little sweater things because I thought I wouldn’t want to go sleeveless, etc. however, those thoughts soon went out the window!!! It’s too darn hot in the desert to get hung up on all that crap — and THANK GOODNESS…cuz I’m sick of all my hangups!!!  They’re weighing me down worse than anything!!

We had a very busy day; with a late check-out because our flight wasn’t until after 11pm.  So we got up and had to be on the bus by 8:45 so we could go to Yad LeKashish – Lifeline for the Old.http://www.lifeline.org.il/ This was really really cool!  I think I’ve probably said that about everything we’ve done, but this really was!!!! It’s a non-profit organization that helps Israel’s “most needy” by giving them something to do that matters; whether they have a particular skill or not.  As I gathered from it, it is operated primarily through volunteers and extremely visionary and talented artists create projects that require several steps and multiple types of skill sets for completions.  They paint on pure silk and make Tallit (prayer shawls), the do paper mache’ molds of various Israeli items of interest, and then when dried they plaster over them and paint and cure them and they are gorgeous!  They embroider and knit and have a metal working shop that makes menorahs and tzedakah (charity) savings boxes with beautiful designs.  Those who can’t paint or color or sew or knit, can wash or process or iron on patters for the painting, or various other things. Full team work projects with no quota, etc.  Just a chance to be useful and interact with others.  In exchange, they receive additional stipend money each month and free monthly bus pass as well as a meal and 2 snacks each work day; they get dental care paid for which is not normally covered on welfare alone; they receive additional support during and for special days and holidays, etc.  It is fully supported by the purchase of the items from there and donations.  It started out with one project…a bookbinding project and has grown and grown and grown.  It was really inspirational to see what it accomplished.  I had a particularly neat experience there.  There was this teenie little lady, I believe she was a Russian immigrant to Israel, and she was sewing beautiful gold thread onto deep maroon fabric in lovely design.  She couldn’t speak to us but her perky smile showed how excited she was that we were interested in what she was doing.  Two of the ladies on our trip took pics of her and she was tickled, you could just see it….then she motioned to me, pointing at me and then at herself.  I thought she wanted me to take a picture of her too so I started to get my camera out; instead she grabbed me and put the sewing project that she had previously held up in my hands and sat me down in her chair at the sewing machine so they could take a photo of me…and she backed away!!!  I said no and made her come stand beside me (we were almost the same height…her standing and me sitting!) and they snapped pics of the two of us.  She was so tickled afterward she hugged me; and I hugged her and gave her a kiss on the cheek and she did the same to me!!!!  I’m sure you’ve figured by now that you’ll be able to come to my house to see the maroon mezuzah hanging on my door post that is identical to the ones she was posting!!!  I sort of HAD to have it after that, don’t ya think???!!!

After we spent some time there, we left for a “quick stop” at Ben Yehuda Street.  We walked there through municipal office centers where our beloved guide Amos pointed out much of interest to us, including the 3-on-3 basketball tournament that was going on!!!  Because of our tight schedule he wanted us to pick up something on Beh Yehuda Street for us to munch on later for lunch as we would not really have a true lunch break, etc.  Well, Ben Yehuda being the shopping mecca street that it is, left me thinking of anything but food.  Especially after my pre-packing had me very worried about how I was going to make it home without paying weight overage charges!  So, I went into one of the weenie little “bags” shops and got a rolling duffel bag which was originally 219 NIS (New Israeli shekels) but got it for 180…which equates to about $45!  It was worth it for the peace of mind that when we did get our packing time in, I wouldn’t be panicked over it!  I was pretty sure I wouldn’t have to pay the airlines for the 2nd bag charge (and I was right!) so it seemed like a good investment!  I also went into McDonalds!  Because I wanted to find a ladies room!  If I promised to order something, they would give me a “slug” to access the pay toilet!  So i did!  And I took a pic of the ordering sign.  As you probably know, McDonalds in Israel is Kosher so you can’t have a cheeseburger ever!  Cant’ mix meat and cheese!  I got back to the bus in time!

We rushed off there and headed for another amazing place: Emek Tzurim (http://arielzellman.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/temple-mount-sifting-project-at-emek-tzurim/) and participating in sifting through ruins dumped from a horrific illegal excavation of dirt at the Temple Mount.  The dirt was originally bulldozed and discarded in a DUMP.  This project has rescued the excavated materials and we got to help sift through for old stuff!  Beryl Palnik and I were partners and we went through 3 bucket loads!  We found bone and ancient mosaic bits and ancient pottery pieces and unfortunately a bunch of “modern goat poo”!!!  All our true fines will be categorized and gone through further by an archeologist specializing in that material.

I think it’s safe to say, all the “hands on” stuff we did made everything more real and more easily understood; from planing our own tree, picking tomatoes to share with the needy, to our mini exposure to archeology!  I hadn’t realized what we were actually going to do at these places by reading the itinerary, so it was really nice.

After we finished up there, we had to hurry back to the hotel as we had people waiting for us from the organization: http://www.theparentscircle.org/ .  This organization is run by bereaved parents of Israeli and Palestinian “children” killed by these conflicts.  Their goal of Supporting Peace, Reconciliation and Tolerance is noble and sincere.  We listened as an Israeli father, barely able to speak about this till, told us of how his daughter was killed by a suicide bomber and a wife, who met her husband, a “Palestinian” in Texas at University and moved to Israel after marrying and eventually she converted to be a Muslim, lost her husband and is still fighting for justice and punishment of the officer who brutally carried out a lengthy murder of her husband who lived through much of the shooting and torture and was, according to her, forbidden to receive medical care until he was assured of not being able to live.  Knowing most of us are parents and/or spouses, had been in Israel for 10 days already and seen the coexistence but certainly no open “relationship” with each other, and hearing the heartache in these voices, we were all moved and close to tears.  Their noble project seems geared at the CHILDREN and is meant to get them to see each other as human beings and with more in common than not.  They have summer camps and inter-school projects where children who do not even speak compatible languages overcome that so quickly to engage with a new-found friend or two or three!  It was a fascinating project and really brought to a head for me how Israel has really managed to not only survive bu emerge as a very impressive country through many grass-roots efforts.  I have no doubt that in impact of these projects is nothing but positive, but they need so much more support to continue their efforts.

After this was done, our guide Amos, summarized for us what we had all done in these 10 or so days.  Any of you reading this blog have seen how much we have done as well!  It’s impressive in its own right.  26 adults, all from different backgrounds and current life situations, 4 rabbis, the Dean of AJR, and two Cantor students about to be ordained, along with many of us temple members and/or friends or spouses of, etc.  Many of us first-timers to Israel; some returning after years and years able to compare the progress and evolution of this magnificent place.  We all came for our own reasons; with or without expectations, but were all treated to more than just a tourist’s trip.  We EXPERIENCED so much  So, while I’m sure we each got what we came for, we’re bringing home more than we ever expected (and no I don’t just mean in souvenirs!).

So, while I’ve traveled “alone”, a big brave move for me for so many reasons, I appreciate all who have looked at this blog with interest and enjoyed any of it. I think the answer to my WHY ISRAEL question goes back to my Summer camp experience and the fellowship I experienced at Union Camp Institute (now GUCI http://guci.urjcamps.org/index.cfm) but, whatever the reason, I didn’t solve that big, or as it now seems, small question!  But I did realize that rather than wanting to do something all your life, you need to JUST DO IT (as Nike says) and appreciate it! And also, sometimes, if it’s something you want to do, you should just do it yourself; and not be encumbered by whether or not someone else is enjoying or appreciating your dream!  Maybe I can say this because that is how my life circumstances played out; or maybe my life circumstances played out that way so that I Would do this!  Part of “the dream” for me I believe, was experiencing it for myself, in my own way, and with little to no outside distraction!

We packed, we loaded the bus, we went to the restaurant “Olives & Fishes” for a fantastic last dinner together.  The we headed to the Airport.  Amos shared with us why he finds Israel amazing and some of the accomplishments.  Before I close this post, I googled just that subject and below is a list of many of the amazing accomplishments of Israel since its independence in 1948.  I will upload the pictures later because i do not have the card reader accessible to me here at the airport!

Lila

Israel, the 100th smallest country, with less than 1/1000th of the world’s population, can make claim to the following: An Israeli ornithologist is utilizing barn owls to rid large cities of rodent problems.

An Israeli company has developed a device that helps nurses locate those hard-to-find veins.

Israeli actress Hanna Laslo took home the “Best Actress” award at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival this year for her performance in Amos Gitai’s “Free Zone.”

An Israeli system to help dyslexic readers is being used throughout the US and Europe.

Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology was pioneered in Israel.

The Israeli women’s national flag football team won the largest and most important open football tournament in Europe in 2005.

An Israeli FDA-approved device – the VelaSmooth – reduces the appearance of cellulite.

Israeli laser technology is powering the latest hair removal devices on the American market.

Intel’s new multi-core processor was completely developed at its facilities in Israel.

An Israeli doctor headed the Merck team that developed a vaccine against cervical cancer.

Prof. Robert Aumann is the fourth Israeli in the last four years to win a Nobel prize.

Israel’s premier basketball team Maccabi Tel Aviv beat the Toronto Raptors in an exhibition game in 2005.

AirTrain JFK – the 8.1-mile light rail labrynthe that connects JFK Airport to New York City’s mass transit – is protected by the Israeli-developed Nextiva surveillance system.

Bill Gates called Israel a major player in the high tech world.

The Weizmann Institute of Science has been voted the best university in the world for life scientists to conduct research.

An Israeli ‘super-sensor’ has been installed in Sealy mattresses to control snoring problems.

Hawaiian singer Don Ho underwent an Israeli-developed stem cell treatment to strengthen his heart.

Israeli company Ultrashape has developed a safe replacement for liposuction – a unique new body-contouring device that “blasts” unwanted fat from the body.

Israeli researchers have discovered the molecular trigger that causes psoriasis.

A 100-member Israeli delegation flew to Kenya in January, 2006 to rescue survivors of a building collapse.

Israeli research has shown that dancers display consistent differences from the general population in two key genes.

Israeli research shows that we can find out more about what is buried beneath the earth’s surface by launching a satellite into the sky.

An Israeli company has unveiled a blood test that via the telephone diagnoses heart attacks.

The Israeli-developed Ex-Press shunt is providing relief for American glaucoma sufferers.

An Israeli research team has found that the combination of electrical stimulation and chemotherapy makes cancerous metastases disappear.

Israel has designed the first flight system to protect passenger and freighter aircraft against missile attack.

Jewish and Arab students at Hebrew University participate in the ‘Billy Crystal Workshops – Peace Through the Performing Arts’ project.

Israel has the highest ratio of university degrees to the population in the world.

Israel produces more scientific papers per capita than any other nation by a large margin – 109 per 10,000 people – as well as one of the highest percapita rates of patents filed.

In proportion to its population, Israel has the largest number of startup companies in the world. In absolute terms, Israel has the largest number of startup companies than any other country in the world, except the US (3,500 companies mostly in hi-tech).

Israel is ranked #2 in the world for venture capital funds right behind the US.

Israel has the highest average living standards in the Middle East. The per capita income in 2000 was over $17,500, exceeding that of the UK.

Israel’s $100 billion economy is larger than all of its immediate neighbors combined.

On a per capita basis, Israel has the largest number of biotech start-ups.

Israel has the largest raptor migration in the world, with hundreds of thousands of African birds of prey crossing as they fan out into Asia.

Twenty-four percent of Israel’s workforce holds university degrees – ranking third in the industrialized world, after the United States and Holland – and 12 percent hold advanced degrees.

Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East.

In 1984 and 1991, Israel airlifted a total of 22,000 Ethiopian Jews at risk in Ethiopia to safety in Israel.

When Gold Meir was elected Prime Minister of Israel in 1969, she became the world’s second elected female leader in modern times.

When the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya was bombed in 1998, Israeli rescue teams were on the scene within a day – and saved three victims from the rubble.

Israel has the third highest rate of entrepreneurship – and the highest rate among women and among people over 55 – in the world.

Relative to its population, Israel is the largest immigrant-absorbing nation on earth. Immigrants come in search of democracy, religious freedom, and economic opportunity.

Israel was the first nation in the world to adopt the Kimberly process, an international standard that certifies diamonds as “conflict free.”

According to industry officials, Israel designed the airline industry’s most impenetrable flight security. U.S. officials now look to Israel for advice on how to handle airborne security threats.

Israel’s Maccabi basketball team won the European championships in 2001.

Israeli tennis player Anna Smashnova is the 15th ranked female player in the world.

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers was produced by Haim Saban, an Israeli whose family fled persecution in Egypt.

Israel has the world’s second highest per capita of new books.

Israel is the only country in the world that entered the 21st century with a net gain in its number of trees.

Israel has more museums per capita than any other country.

Israel has two official languages: Hebrew and Arabic.

Israeli scientists developed the first fully computerized, no-radiation, diagnostic instrumentation for breast cancer.

An Israeli company developed a computerized system for ensuring proper administration of medications, thus removing human error from medical treatment. Every year in U.S. hospitals 7,000 patients die from treatment mistakes.

Israel’s Given Imaging developed the first ingestible video camera, so small it fits inside a pill. Used the view the small intestine from the inside, the camera helps doctors diagnose cancer and digestive disorders.

Researchers in Israel developed a new device that directly helps the heart pump blood, an innovation with the potential to save lives among those with congestive heart failure. The new device is synchronized with the heart’s mechanical operations through a sophisticated system of sensors.

With more than 3,000 high-tech companies and start-ups, Israel has the highest concentration of hi-tech companies in the world (apart from the Silicon Valley).

In response to serious water shortages, Israeli engineers and agriculturalists developed a revolutionary drip irrigation system to minimize the amount of water used to grow crops.

Israel has the highest percentage in the world of home computers per capita.

Israel leads the world in the number of scientists and technicians in the workforce, with 145 per 10,000, as opposed to 85 in the U.S., over 70 in Japan, and less than 60 in Germany.   With over 25% of its work force employed in technical professions. Israel places first in this category as well.